The Crans loop at Cap Gris Nez

Start on the country side, across a field with Cap Blanc Nez in the distance behind you and the English cliffs on your right, in fine weather. Halfway along, take a break on the beach. Return to the top of the cliffs, where you'll appreciate all the notches and the panoramic view of Cap Gris Nez.
26/06/2023 The hike has been modified because the passage is forbidden by the hole at Quette and the crossing of the Châtelet stream cannot be made anymore via the dunes.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 174 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 175 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 56 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Begin in the car park on the edge of the Dune du Châtelet near the village of Tardinghem.

(S/E) Follow the road backwards for about 200 m to reach the car park serving the hamlet of Châtelet. Turn right at the 1st junction. Reach the Mont aux Leux blockhouse complex.

(1) Continue along this path, past more blockhouses to the calvary. Then come to a road junction with a crucifix.

(2) Cross the road, then turn left onto the yellow signposted path. Continue south to reach the Todt Battery in the hamlet of Haringzelles.

(3) Turn right and continue until you reach the sea at Cran Poulet.

(4) Keep right on the GR®120 path, marked in red and white. Make a short climb along the top of the cliff. Return to the seafront, pass the Crans aux Œufs, then the Crans de Barbier, and arrive at a crossroads before the Cran des Sillers.

(5) A fence prevents access to the lighthouse from the coast. Turn right on the GR®120 and take the path that leads inland along the bombed out pasture. At the top of this track, keep left until you reach the hamlet of Framezelle.

(6) Cross Route du Cap at the crosswalk and turn left on the opposite sidewalk as far as Route du Sodit (where there's a one-way sign).

Turn right onto this road. Pass the Cap Gris Nez campsite. Leave the beach road on your left and continue until you reach an intersection of paths.

(8) Continue on the path leading to Le Gris Nez.

(9) Begin a short loop to the right to contemplate Cap Gris Nez, the cliffs of the English coast and the panoramic views. At the end of the loop, take the opposite route and continue left on the GR® to find the trailhead.

(8) Continue on the GR® 120, past the Sirène houses, to the paragliding departure area and a new lookout.

(10) Continue on the GR® heading due east, following numerous blockhouses again until you find another path on your right in the curve of the GR® 120.

(11) Follow this path to the right to find the route du Châtelet, which takes you back to the Dune du Châtelet car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Dune du Châtelet car park
  2. 1 : km 1.03 - alt. 48 m - Mont aux Leux
  3. 2 : km 2.94 - alt. 50 m - Calvary
  4. 3 : km 3.96 - alt. 51 m - Todt battery
  5. 4 : km 4.84 - alt. 5 m - Cran Poulet
  6. 5 : km 7.32 - alt. 24 m - GR120 junction
  7. 6 : km 8.26 - alt. 39 m - Hamlet of Framezelle
  8. 7 : km 8.41 - alt. 40 m - Crossing with the Sodit road
  9. 8 : km 8.86 - alt. 12 m - Junction towards Cap Gris Nez
  10. 9 : km 10 - alt. 44 m - Carrefour - Cap Gris-Nez
  11. 10 : km 11.25 - alt. 46 m - Belvedere
  12. 11 : km 12.35 - alt. 7 m
  13. S/E : km 12.83 - alt. 6 m - Dune du Châtelet car park

Practical information

Dogs must be kept on a leash.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Pilou64
Pilou64

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Pleasant walk with no difficulties

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bételgeuse
bételgeuse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

very nice easy walk despite the length, in the sunshine. magnificent scenery, especially towards the coast. exceptional site. no difficulty. recommend.

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baroux
baroux

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

we were unable to follow this route as some areas are dangerous and prohibited. we took a similar route given by the Maison des Sites des Deux Caps: entre Crans et Baies.

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Tjfc
Tjfc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk. No difficulties. Beautiful panoramic views.

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Saltaojos
Saltaojos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A very easy walk, shorter than advertised (especially if you don't do the loop to Cap Gris Nez, which we had already visited the day before). Few tarmac roads, but wide paths full of hikers and mountain bikers.
It's worth taking a stroll along the beach at Cran Poulet to watch the paragliders, have a picnic... and at the end of the route, take the steps down to the left on the beach towards Tardinghen for a swim or a walk with your feet in the water. The return journey is lovely in fine weather.
A little too crowded for our liking on these paths, but in such a touristy place in the middle of summer that's to be expected.

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chantaltraisnel
chantaltraisnel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Beautiful hike under a beautiful sun a lot of broad paths in stones also borrowed by the bicycles, the distance is not the good one, because it is necessary to add the deviation therefore count rather a good 14 kms.not to miss our lady of the sea to the chicken notch ❤️🙏I recommend

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Hamande
Hamande

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice walk, with no real difficulties. I was worried when I read the comments about the route deviation, but it's not a problem at all. The scenery is magnificent and we did the walk in 3 hours without really taking a break. 4h15 is a bit of an overestimate. It was very windy but we enjoyed the beauty of the area to the full. The little guinguette near the car park is a good place to rest. We'll be back there again.

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sousouu
sousouu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a hike with some superb viewpoints, where you can get some height and some of the scenery is truly magnificent.
It's a hike with a bit of a difference in altitude, but it's well worth the effort, and the visual rewards are just as good.
Take the time to look back so you don't miss out on the beauty of the landscape.
If you wish, you can stop off for a bite to eat at Les Margats de Raoul, a restaurant on the way, which I highly recommend. It's very local and very good, enough to give you a boost at the end of the hike and leave you with good memories.
I've done a lot of coastal walks and this one is one of my favourites 😁

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Jldaubresse @yahoo.com
Jldaubresse @yahoo.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Discovering the interior of the TB country. We returned to the coast from Escalles.

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Lilu
Lilu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The approach to Cap Gris Nose needs to be reviewed, as the notch is forbidden, so a short diversions is in order.

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olilaclasse
olilaclasse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent hike in summer: the first part crosses the countryside (with little shade, so it's hard work). Return along the cliff with magnificent scenery.
Beware that the path is blocked at one point, forcing you to make a diversion of almost 2 km. A bit of a shame. We did a bit of off-roading through the fields to avoid the road leading to the cape.
Moderate gradient (172 metres).

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Lilie59
Lilie59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

very pleasant walk 😎 especially the second part along the cliffs. A bit more crowded at cape gris nez despite the fact that it was during the week and outside the school holidays, so be careful in summer as the coastal path must be very busy.

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Coviaux
Coviaux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely route, especially the seaside section above the cliffs, with a fine view of Cap Blanc-Nez and England in the distance (weather permitting).
However, the section between the Cran des Silliers (marker 5) and the Cap is closed due to landslides and the fragility of the cliffs. We had to follow the diverted GR then return to the Cap by road - probably not very pleasant in summer with the traffic.

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leslie robert antoine
leslie robert antoine
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike on Saturday 26 March 2022.
Splendid weather, great for walking.
This undulating loop takes in the magnificent scenery of the Côte d'Opale, from the sea, the cliffs of Cap Blanc Nez and the surrounding countryside. Highly recommended!

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Pio Joh
Pio Joh

Thank you for your comment.

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